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Moroccan sportsmen and sportswomen had their highs and lows in 2021. As the year draws to a close, here are those who broke barriers and achieved significant milestones in their professions.
Morocco Wins 2nd African Nations Championship in a Row
Morocco’s local Atlas Lions became the first to retain the 2021 African Nations Championship (CHAN). They now join DR Congo as the only teams to win the tournament twice. The local Atlas Lions had a fantastic season and sat atop Africa once again, securing their second CHAN title in a row after impressing at home during the 2018 edition of the tournament.
Three individual prizes awarded at the end of the continental competition went to Moroccan players: Man of the Tournament, Top Scorer, and Best Goalkeeper.
With five goals, Soufiane Rahimi was awarded Top Scorer and Best Player in the CHAN 2021.
Morocco’s Atlas Lions Outperforming in Africa
Morocco’s first team qualified for the decisive round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, winning their group with a perfect record of six wins out of six matches. The Moroccan Lions played a high-profile performance in the first round, beating all other teams in their group.
Morocco’s national team also qualified for the final round of the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
Currently ranked as the second-best team in Africa, the Atlas Lions are going to the 2021 AFCON with confidence and an apparent determination to bury the trauma of their disappointingly early exit from the 2019 AFCON.
Casablanca’s Raja Shines at Bringing Home Trophies
It must have been great being a Raja Casablanca fan in 2021. The Moroccan club made their supporters’ year by outperforming African and Arab clubs.
Raja of Casablanca was especially brilliant in the Arab Club Cup, bringing honor to Moroccan football fans. On August 21, the green men defeated Al Ittihad of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to win the Mohammed VI Arab Club Cup.
A month prior to its Arab Club Cup coronation, the Moroccan club Algerian defeated Algeria’s JS Kabylie (2-1) in the final to win the CAF Confederation Cup.
Futsal National Team Wins Arab Futsal Cup
The Moroccan Futsal team won the Arab Futsal Cup for the first time, defeating the Egyptian team in the final. In a competition held in the Egyptian city of “October 6” from May 20 to 30, the Atlas Lions defeated their opponents 4-0.
With seven goals scored during the tournament, Morocco’s Atlas Lion, Ashraf Saud, earned the Best-Scorer award.
The team’s great performance in the Arab Cup, their most recent official competition, demonstrated what this generation of players is capable of. The Atlas Lions displayed brilliant attacking power throughout the Arab Futsal Cup, scoring 27 goals while conceding only two.
Their incredible statistics were put to the test at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021. For the first time, the Moroccan Lions qualified for the quarter-finals round of the international competition.
Morocco’s Amputees National Football Team to Participate in the World Cup
From their first participation in the African Cup competition, the Moroccan amputee team has qualified for the World Cup finals, scheduled for 2022. The Atlas Lions ranked fifth in the continental competition, with just one month of preparation.
Fouad Assou, the team’s coach, has said that his players deserve more attention and support as they prepare to represent Morocco on the world stage.
Women’s Football Improving in Great Strides
Morocco focused efforts on the national women’s football successes in 2021, as part of enhancing this category.
The Royal Women’s Army Club participated in the African Champions League for women, with a strong presence in the inaugural season. After an honorable participation alongside the largest African clubs, the military squad finished third in the championship.
For the first time in the history of women’s national teams, Morocco’s first squad has climbed to the top of FIFA’s rankings. The Atlas Lioness ranked 78th in the world, eighth in Africa, and third in the Arab world.
Morocco’s under-20 women’s team also qualified for the fourth round of African qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Costa Rica, making it the only Arab team to qualify for this stage.
Fez-born El Bakkali Strikes Gold in Tokyo, Outruns Kenyans at Home
After a string of dismal Olympic performances by Moroccan athletes, Fez-born athlete Soufiane El Bakkali won gold in the 3000m steeplechase at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
This made El Bakkali the first non-Kenyan athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase event since 1980, while reviving Moroccans’ hope and aspirations for more gold.
The Moroccan athlete followed up his gold-winning performance by dazzling the sporting world when he defeated Kenya’s most illustrious runners on home territory.
Brave Athletes at the Paralympics
Moroccan paralympic competitors made a name for themselves on the international scene this past year. The Moroccan champions’ illustrious participation in the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 came to a close with 11 medals.
Moroccan Paralympics athletes honored the country with 4 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals.
Particularly making headlines was Abdeslam Hili, with his outstanding effort in the men’s T12 400m competition.
Zakariae Derhem added a second gold medal to Morocco’s impressive trophy collection in the F33 men’s shot put.
Ayoub Sadni earned the third gold medal in Tokyo in the T47 400m race.
El Amin Chentouf successfully defended his championship, giving the North African nation its fourth gold medal, setting a new record in the T12 marathon.
The new year is a new opportunity for other disciplines to embrace Morocco’s energy of sport successes and add their names to the country’s accomplishments on the continental and global scene.
